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Bucs' Mike Evans equals Jerry Rice's record of 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons

NFL: New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay BuccaneersJan 5, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) celebrates after a reception to put him over 1,000 yards for the season in the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

Instead of taking a knee to complete a victory Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made sure Mike Evans matched Jerry Rice’s NFL record of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

Evans was five yards shy of the mark, but the team lined up and ran one final play and he turned Baker Mayfield’s short pass into a 9-yard gain to conclude the season with 1,004 receiving yards. After being tackled, Evans spiked the ball hard into the turf and was mobbed by his teammates.

The milestone also earned Evans a $3 million bonus for topping 70 catches, 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. He finished his 11th season with 74 receptions and 11 scores.

Evans, 31, had nine catches for 89 yards on Sunday.

The Buccaneers clinched the NFC South and a playoff appearance with the 27-19 home win over the New Orleans Saints, making the occasion doubly fun for the players.

Evans was watching closely in the final minute, hoping the defense would stop the Saints to give the Buccaneers one last possession.

“I was hoping they’d get the stop, I couldn’t pass up history,” Evans said. “To be tied with the greatest to ever do it. …

“The defense knew the record was on the line and they were trying to get off the field. I appreciate them for that.”

Getting to 1,000 was tougher for Evans this season as he missed three games with a hamstring injury.

Rice had 14 overall 1,000-yard seasons in his career, including 11 straight from 1986-96 with the San Francisco 49ers.

The third-seeded Buccaneers (10-7) will host the sixth-seeded Washington Commanders (12-5) in next Sunday’s wild-card round.

–Field Level Media

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Raptors' Brandon Ingram in walking boot ahead of Game 7

NBA: Playoffs-Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto RaptorsApr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was seen in a walking boot during the team’s shootaround on Sunday morning, several hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ingram is listed as questionable to play in the game due to right heel inflammation.

An All-Star this season for the second time in his career, Ingram was limited to 11 minutes and scored one point in Toronto’s 125-120 setback to Cleveland in Game 5 on Wednesday. He did not play in Toronto’s 112-110 overtime victory in Game 6 on Friday.

During the regular season, the 28-year-old Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points over 77 games. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists and drilled 38.2% of his 3-point attempts.

–Field Level Media

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76ers' Joel Embiid to home fans: 'Don't sell your tickets'

NBA: Playoffs-New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ersMay 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) scores a three pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers with 25 seconds to go in game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

It’s just a little more than 100 miles from Madison Square Garden in New York to Xfinity Mobile Arena in South Philadelphia — a relatively short car ride or train trip for Knicks fans who wanted to see their team in action against the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

But 76ers star Joel Embiid, who was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player and a first-team All-Pro selection in the 2022-23 season, wants no part of Knicks fans invading his team’s home arena.

In his postgame interview Saturday night after the Sixers stunned the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of their series to advance, he put 76ers fans on notice.

Don’t sell your playoff tickets — especially not to Knicks fans.

New Yorkers overtook the Philadelphia arena two years ago when the No. 2-seeded Knicks eliminated the No. 7 Sixers in the opening round of the postseason. It has been presumed that Knicks fans bought their tickets from 76ers fans.

“I just have a message for our fans,” Embiid said Saturday night. “Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We’re going to need the support.

“Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys.”

Embiid offered a solution, if need be.

“Knicks fans travel — they buy tickets,” he said. “There’s going to be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money. Don’t do it, we need you guys. We need the support, and we need them to be extremely loud. If you need money, I’ve got you.”

The Eastern Conference semifinal between the teams begins Monday in New York, with Game 2 set for Wednesday. The series will move to Philadelphia on Friday for Game 3, followed by Game 4 on Saturday.

The Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks in six games to advance.

–Field Level Media

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Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles

Tennis: Miami OpenMar 29, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates his victory over Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in the final of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Jannik Sinner became the first player to capture five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles when he breezed past Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday in the Mutua Madrid Open final.

The 24-year-old Italian, who ranks No. 1 in the world, started his unprecedented streak in France by winning the Paris Masters on Nov. 2. He set the record there for losing the fewest number of games (29).

Sinner won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March, where he became the first player not to lose a set in two consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events. He followed that by claiming the Miami Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters and now the Mutua Madrid Open. The last four victories have come in a nine-week span.

In Sunday’s win over the second-seeded Zverev, Sinner never faced a break point while converting all four of his break points against Zverev. Of his 29 first serves that landed, he won the point on 27 (93.1%). He averaged 130 miles per hour on his first serves compared to Zverev’s 124 mph.

Sinner needed just 25 minutes to complete the first set and 31 minutes to take the second set and wrap up his ninth consecutive win over Zverev. The German sensed the match might go this way.

“He’s world No. 1 and hasn’t lost a match since the beginning of February,” Zverev told reporters after capturing his semifinal match on Friday. “Right now he’s definitely the best player in the world. I have to play very, very good tennis to have a chance.”

–Field Level Media

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